SIXTY YEARS ON THE TURF 



I did not think a deal of his humour when the night 

 before the St. Leger of 1854 he approached me in 

 the Subscription Rooms at Doncaster with : 



" I understand, Hodgman, you have some money 

 to lay against Boiardo." What he said, under the 

 circumstances, was sufficiently irritating, but equally 

 so was the manner of the saying. 



" What d d fool has been telling you that ? " 



I asked, being nettled. 



"Oh," he returned in his bland way, "you have 

 been christened right. You undoubtedly are Young 

 Impudence 1 " 



" Young Impudence or not," I answered, " here 

 ai'e the facts. At the present moment if Boiardo 

 wins I shall have to pay £15,000, which is no 

 laughing matter. Bill Davies, I suppose, has told 

 you to come to ask me to lay Boiardo, thinking it a 

 joke." 



He admitted Davies was the instigator of the 

 inquiry. 



" Oh, well, I suppose it amuses him, and it can't 

 do me any harm." 



"But how is it you are so bad against Boiardo ? " 



" I will tell you all about the affair. You know 

 Mr. Baily, of Baily's Magazine, in Cornhill. I 

 am in the habit of calling in there for a chat with 

 him. He knows all John Scott's business — or at 



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